Vice Chair Tom led the meeting until Leigh joined at 1:55.  

Jim Handy read the Commission's Mission and Vision Statements.

Tom reported that the School Performance Committee discussed the following:

Commission member status - A confirmation hearing for Jeremy Ray will be held on April 2nd.   It is expected that Jeremy will take Norm Higgins' seat.  Leigh will not seek renomination of her post.  Two State Board of Education members remain to be appointed.

Mid-Year School Reports prepared by Staff.

School renewal evaluation support proposal to provide assistance with quantitative academic analysis and qualitative reviews for schools up for Charter renewals.

Board to board meeting with ACADIA Academy.

Possible postponement of the Hall of Flags in May as legislature will not be in session. 

Leigh reported on the joint meeting with the Executive Committee.

Finance - The Committee reviewed the monthly financials and a draft of FY27 budget.  They discussed the impact of the Commission's structural change to being a Public Instrumentality of the State bringing a new external audit requirement, purchases of computer hardware and software, new e-mail addresses, etc. 

Executive - The Committee discussed the membership transitions on the Commission and reviewed the enrollment and financial reporting of the school portfolio.

See Joint meeting reports in the Finance Committee Section.

As Norm Higgins steps down from the Commission, he thanked the Commission for supporting him during his term as Chair and celebrated their accomplishments.  He recognized the quality of work from the schools, school leaders, boards and teachers and spoke of the challenges and opportunities ahead including the development of AI, career and technological education, and rural community needs.  Finally, he thanked the staff for their efforts.

Heather King reported that Meagan Rivard a senior at Maine Arts Academy won the state Poetry Out Loud competition and will compete at Nationals.  Steve Legawiec, Theater Director coached.

Mallory Cook of the Maine Education Association discussed the portfolio pathway developed by a group of local superintendents to address Chapter 115 teacher certification changes from the last legislative session.  She asked that the Commission review examples created for the State Board and develop something similar for charter schools to ease the certification process.

Ryan Anthony reported on the third annual MEANS Maple Sunday event.  MEANS is registered as a syrup producer and is on the Maine Maple Producer Association map.  Students do all of the work to get ready for the event including setting up the equipment, tapping the trees, boiling the sap, designing jug labels, building a kiosk and restoring of the woods when done.  The event provides many learning opportunities from math and science to writing and history.    

Anna Klein Christie reported that Baxter students won a robotics award for software development at the regional robotics competition in Vermont.  Also, Junior Lydia Ellingwood placed 7th at the State Math Meet and the chess team was third at a statewide chess competition.  Anna also discussed the joyful learning environment at Baxter with its Flex Friday projects and many opportunities to explore and research topics in depth.

Elizabeth Firnkes shared that CRCS recently held a well attended overnight social event at the Overman Academy known as the John Shea Ravencon to honor and raise scholarship funds for a former student.  Elizabeth also noted that Career Week at all of the CRCS will be beginning in Mid-May.  The schools invite community members to come and talk about careers.    

Leza reported that the ELC Honors Biology Group is working with a local forester who partners with Bowsprit Foundation and the University of Maine to perform fieldwork identifying stands of green and brown ash.  Other ELC partnerships include one with the Waldo County Soil and Water Conservation District where students participated in live stake harvesting and planting to stabilize soil around Lake Winnecook. Leza will provide her slide presentation for the Commission members to review.

All school updates were provided in the public comments.

Lana shared the following:

• Commission member transitions - To make up the volunteer Commission, there are four gubernatorial appointments and three State Board (SBOE) members.  There is currently one open SBOE seat and with James Ford moving of the Board, another seat will be open.  Superintendent Jeremy Ray will be coming on to replace Norm Higgins.  Lana expressed deep gratitude for Norm's time on the Commission. 

• Lana presented to the SBOE on February 12th and provided updates on 5 categories:

1. The charter public school landscape is small but important with 10 schools serving 2,834 students or 1.6% of the total school population.  They provide different options alongside the district public schools.  
2. The schools operate using an open enrollment policy with no admission requirements.  They use a blind lottery if demand exceeds capacity.  Of note, enrollment trends indicate previously home-schooled and private school students are enrolling bringing them back to a public education.
3. Accountability & Performance - The Commission holds schools to a high accountability standard that is measured by the Performance Framework.  The Commission balances this accountability with support including nearly monthly professional development sessions.
4. Funding structure - The schools are funded by the MDOE using the same per pupil mechanism as the district schools.  Because the public charter schools enroll students from multiple districts, the state pays 100% of the minimally acceptable per pupil amount.  Unlike district public schools, the charter schools are not able to raise additional revenue through local taxes.    mechanism to raise additional $ through local taxes.
5. The Commission's recent change in operating structure to one of a Public Instrumentality of the State allows cost savings and more efficient funds management.  

• Mid-Year Meetings Summary - Lana described these non-statutorily required meetings as a helpful mid-year checkpoint with discussion centered on any areas of the performance framework where schools were not meeting expectations last year. Overall strengths noted are:
  • Improved school board governance and compliance.
  • High program quality and a positive culture was noted by the schools. Student engagement is strong with more clubs and activity offerings.
  • Graduation outcomes continue to be good. 
• Areas of growth reported are:
  • Math proficiency remains an area of concern with new curriculum is being tried at some schools.
  • Chronic absenteeism remains challenging.  Several of the schools reported improvement but it is a large effort.
• Brief highlights by school are:
  • ACADIA - On time submissions has improved this year. 
  • Baxter School of Science and Technology - Positive school atmosphere is noted.
  • Community Regional Charter School - Making strong progress on intervention plan with encouraging early academic data.
  • Ecology Learning Center - Demonstrates strong academic outcomes with high program quality.
  • Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences - Making strong progress on intervention plan.  Panorama participation has increased.
  • Maine Academy of Natural Sciences - Progress in board governance. Academic programming continues to be deeply integrated with school culture.
  • Maine Arts Academy - Successfully launched their middle school with a positive culture.
  • Maine Connections Academy - Maintains a clear system of data use to inform instruction & planning.
  • Maine Virtual Academy - Maintains strong internal alignment on a collaborative staff culture.
• The planned May Hall of Flags event is postponed until the legislators return for the next legislative session.  A new date is forthcoming.  Jim noted that having an event in the first year of the legislative session is consistent with the process for many other organizations.
• Panorama - Amy reported that the Panorama survey window is open.  The schools administer the survey to students, family, teachers and staff.  Amy thanked the schools for their pre-work efforts in opening the surveys and reported that participation looks strong.  Two windows were open this year with CRCS opening from January to April 9th and all others closing on June 9th.  CRCS window from January to April.  Others will close on June 9.  

Twin City Publications - Jenna "Crow" Veinote has been named the January Student of the Month at Maine Connections Academy

Amy informed that any student residing in the State of Maine is eligible to apply to a charter public school.  The school must enroll all students who wish to attend unless the number of students exceeds the enrollment capacity of a program, class, grade level or building.  If capacity is exceeded, the school must hold an enrollment lottery with preference given to those already enrolled or to siblings of those enrolled.  The schools also may give preference to children of charter public school founders, governing board members, and full-time employees. 

The schools choose when to open their enrollment window, often in January or February. Reasonable notice of at least 30 days must be given and publicized on appropriate websites and newspapers.  Current students must submit an intent to reenroll form and new students must complete a declaration of intent form that includes grade level, school the student wishes to enter and the student's resident district.  

The need for an enrollment lottery is determined at end of the open enrollment period, and the lottery must be conducted no later than April 1st per statute.  The lottery randomly selects students to eliminate any discrimination and must be conducted in public with reasonable notice given.  Any students not selected are placed on a waitlist.    

This year, five of the ten charter public schools held a lottery.  2,798 students have been confirmed for enrollment in SY26-27.  421 are on wait list.  

If students want to apply after the open enrollment period, the enrollment is on a rolling basis.  If space is available, the student will get a slot or go on wait list if no space is available.  

• ACADIA Academy (Ryan Gagnon)
• Maine Arts Academy (Kelly Clark)
• Maine Arts Academy (Michael Fortin)

• ACADIA Academy (Mary Morrissey Torsch)

None

May

• CRCS Proposed Changes to its Food Service Program
• Renewal Timeline
• Maine Charter School Commission FY27 Budget 

Graduation

• Sunday, May 31st at 12:00pm - Maine Arts Academy (Augusta Civic Center)
• Friday, June 5th at 2:00pm - Maine Connections Academy (Merrill Auditorium, Portland)
• Friday, June 5th at 2:00pm - Maine Virtual Academy (Zoom)

Professional Development

• Tuesday, May 19 (9:30-11:30am) - Planning for the Summer/Making the Most of the Summer Months - Zoom Only

Other

Saturday, May 2, 2026 (11:00am-1:00pm)- Maine Arts Academy's 10-Year Anniversary Gala

• May 13, 2026 - Zoom Only
• June 10, 2026 - Maine Academy of Natural Sciences, 13 Easler Road, Hinckley or Zoom